Now Jen is on a mission to inspire and empower others through financial education so they too can enjoy the life they want to live. Jen shares her recipe for success, happiness and financial freedom via writing, blogging, speaking and coaching. As part of her commitment to community, Jen pledges her blogging profits as 0% microloans through Kiva.org to small businesses operated by working, impoverished women in developing countries.

Press / Media

Press / Media / Publications / Appearances:

Jen Smith has presented her inspirational story and personal finance and entrepreneurial advice on national television, in national magazines, books, film, websites and podcasts, and to live audiences of all sizes. Jen presents her personal values-driven money approach with a candid, no-hype “next door” narrative style that resonates with a large, diverse audience. The feedback she receives from readers, audiences and viewers is evidence that her story inspires.

Jen appeared on The Montel Show as a featured guest contributor for the “Modern Girl’s Guide to Success” (Dec 2007) and as a featured guest panelist at CNN’s Inspire Summit: Women’s Empowerment Conference (Dec 2008). Jen has been filmed and is scheduled to appear in an upcoming feature-length film, “Secrets of Money: The Documentary Movie”. She has been interviewed for inclusion in a variety of magazines, books, web sites and national publications including: U.S. News & World Report: Money and Business, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, Forbes, MainStreet.com (TheStreet), Austin American-Statesman, WiseBread, Lifehacker, WOW! Women On Writing, Consumerism Commentary, Alpha Consumer, Get Rich Slowly, Retire Early Lifestyle, ParentDish, Women’s Health Magazine, Rocky Mountain Parent Magazine, Natural Awakenings Magazine, “The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life” (book), “50 Interviews: Entrepreneurs” (book), “Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vision Boards” (book), “How To Be Rich and Happy: A Manual For Life” (book), Defining Someday (book).

Jen Smith’s Bio Summary:

Known in the blogosphere and on national television as “The Millionaire Mommy Next Door,” Jen Smith went from working a minimum wage job as a graveyard shift donut and coffee waitress to financial freedom as a self-made millionaire by age 40. Over the years, Jen bootstrapped half a dozen small businesses while working from home in her pajamas. She learned how to invest in the stock market and in herself. Her story is more than a rags to riches story, it’s a rags to a rich life story.

Now Jen is on a mission to inspire and empower others through financial education so they too can enjoy the life they want to live. Jen shares her recipe for success, happiness and financial freedom via writing, blogging, speaking and coaching. As part of her commitment to community, she pledges her blogging profits as 0% microloans through Kiva.org to small businesses operated by working, impoverished women in developing countries.

What makes Jen Smith’s story unique?

Jen’s parents struggled paycheck to paycheck while she secretly dumpster-dived for food after school. She’s a college dropout who married a construction worker. Her in-laws tried to put her in her place, “behind her man”. She witnessed her mother starve herself to death because she was afraid to live the rest of her life without a man or money. But Jen doesn’t allow difficult circumstances to get in her way. She is empowered — and she loves to help others blow past obstacles and grab life by the ovaries, too.

Jen is a closet millionaire. She lives in a typical middle-class neighborhood and lives a typical middle-class life… with one fabulous exception: she and her husband work only when they want to. They haven’t set an alarm clock in years. Whether it be work, parenting or play, they wake with the sun, eager to do whatever they choose. Jen is a do-er, not a have-er; rather than sport bling, her money affords her and her family the gift of free time.

Jen’s values-driven lifestyle of voluntary simplicity is great for the wallet and the environment. For example, she and her husband have shared ONE vehicle since they were married 23 years ago. Their current vehicle is 12 years old.

Despite those around her saying she was nuts at the time, she correctly called the real estate bubble and the subsequent crash. Against mainstream advice, she sold their home in mid-2004 and has been renting ever since. And she plans to continue renting until at least 2012 (or for as long as renting continues to be cheaper than owning).

Jen bucks the system when it comes to stock market investing, too: she doesn’t espouse the typical “buy and hope” methodology. She tried and tested many investing strategies over the years before landing on one that suits her risk tolerance and personal needs best.

Yes I am a male. Not even sure if I’m supposed to be here….but I am….and I have never been so inspired to buckle down and focus on my financial freedom. All the other books and articles that I read have helped me over the years…but your words and “rise to freedom”, has given me an extreme focus and new outlook. Thank You

I’m an Italian immigrant and I was starting from scratch 7 years ago here in the Country.
I’m 40 now, and after paid off all my previous debt, I’m on my way to fulfill the goal to be a millionaire before the age of 50.

I really like your blog. Just discovered it a few days ago. I want to know about compound investing. You say that interest rate is 10 percent in your calculation, I understand its an assumption. Rates are really low these days. Saving accounts give you almost nothing. Management fees in mutual funds are high. Where should I invest to give me a rate of return of at least 5 percent?